Holiday Vetoes

These vetoes were stamped Monday but the skeleton crew of reporters at the Capitol today, including yours truly, found them under their doors this morning: one for a bill that would help coordinate searches for people who wander off or get lost due to Alzheimer’s disease; and another that would have stripped the Society of Prevention for Cruelty to Children of some of its law enforcement power.

The first measure, sponsored by Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman William Magnarelli, would allow creation of a “Silver Alert” for missing people with Alzheimer’s, presumably along the lines of the Amber Alerts for missing children.

Gov. Paterson vetoed it, however, due to the cost and the fact that it would rely on just one type of tracking system (sold by MedicAlert). That, he said, would be unwise given the other locator technologies that are in use across New York.

The second bill, from Sen. Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblywoman Joan Millman would strip the non-profit SPCC of some of its powers. The legislation cites problems over the years with group members including misrepresenting themselves as law enforcement officers and interfering with police investigations.

The trouble is, Paterson noted, Erie County (Buffalo) contracts with a SPCC for child protective services beyond normal business hours and the measure would put them in a bind.